Newry Crown Court has heard that a Complainant blamed herself for abuse suffered by another alleged victim of Jeffrey Donaldson. 

The former DUP leader and Lagan Valley MP faces 18 charges, following complaints by two alleged victims, including one count of rape. The 63 year old denies all charges. 

Yesterday was the final day of evidence for Complainant B and it began with her cross examination by Mr Donaldson’s barrister. 

Ten of those charges relate to Complainant B, including the one count of rape.

Previously, the court had heard she had attended a Christian rehabilitation centre as a teenager, after she began using drugs. 

In her evidence, she told the court that she had informed a pastor at the centre about the alleged abuse she had suffered. 

“Yesterday, during the remainder of the cross-examination, she was asked if she remembered the pastor suggesting at that time that he go and report these allegations to the police and her responding to tell him not to do that and that if he did, she'd tell the police it was all a lie,” reporter Emily Keegan described on Newstalk Breakfast. 

“She said she didn't remember that, but she said she should have reported it and that she should have said, ‘Please go, 'I’ll go with you’.

“But that she was embarrassed about things she had done as a teenager and she was afraid.” 

Jeffrey Donaldson leaving Newry Crown Court. Picture by: Alamy.com.

At this point, the Complainant became quite upset and broke down in tears. 

“She said that if she had gone to the police, it wouldn't have happened to Complainant A and she even went as far as to say, ‘It's my fault’,” Ms Keegan recalled. 

“She was also asked if all of this was part of an attempt to get out of that rehab centre at the time and to deflect from her actions that got her in there, but she denied those suggestions.” 

Jeffrey Donaldson at Newry Crown Court. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Following the alleged abuse, the Complainant said she had remained in touch with Mr Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, over the years. 

“She said that she at that point felt like she should have moved on because he had apologised - this was referencing a meeting which was held at that same rehab centre after she had reported the allegations of sexual abuse to someone,” Ms Keegan said. 

“Jeffrey Donaldson had been called in to meet with her and she said he apologised to her at that meeting. 

“But there was no details actually discussed about what he was apologising for and she said she was trying not to be a victim anymore when she was continuing to contact him in later years.

“She wanted to show that she had made a life for herself, but she ultimately said she doesn't know why she contacted him, but she did.

“And that none of it changes what happened when she was younger.”

Jeffrey Donaldson with his wife Eleanor in 2000. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Eleanor Donaldson faces five charges related to aiding and abetting Mr Donaldson’s alleged abuse, all of which she denies. 

Because of her poor mental health, she faces a trial of facts, which means she is not participating in the trial. 

“[The Complainant] claims that in the summer of 2023, she received a text through one of the organisers of that same rehab center saying that Eleanor wanted to seek forgiveness from her,” Ms Keegan said.

“It wasn't really stated clearly what that forgiveness was in relation to, but she had said that she hadn't replied to that message. 

“Yesterday, during the cross-examination by Mrs Donaldson's lawyer, she had made a number of allegations against Eleanor as well, one of them being that she had witnessed an incident when Jeffrey Donaldson had lifted her top and played with her breasts. 

“It was the position of Eleanor Donaldson's lawyer that she didn't actually know for sure that Eleanor had seen this incident happen, but that when she got the text saying she wanted to seek forgiveness, that that was what cemented her reasoning behind believing she had seen something.

“But the complainant said that that actually just confirmed what she had always known herself and just stated once again that she was confident that Eleanor had seen what would happen despite the defense saying otherwise.” 

Today, Newry Crown Court will begin hearing evidence from a third witness in the case.

Main image: Jeffrey Donaldson and solicitor John McBurney arriving at Newry Crown Court. Picture by: Alamy.com.